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Dutcher's first film was the ultra-low budget student film "Brother John." As a young graduate of film school Dutcher poured everything he had into making his first feature-length film, the romantic comedy "Girl Crazy." Although "Girl Crazy" was never screened theatrically, Dutcher did sell the picture to HBO/Cinemax, and was able to recoup his expenses.
In 1997 Dutcher directed "Eliza and I", a film adapted from the stage play by actress/playwright Elizabeth J. Hansen, which was shown on public television and is available on video.
Dutcher's first theatrically released film was "God's Army," made with a production budget of $250,000, a paltry sum by today's standards. But after it was released in Utah it became the second-highest grossing film in the state for that year. "God's Army" went on to be shown in theaters all over the US, in Mexico and in Canada. It ended up grossing over $2.6 million in U.S. box office sales, and then sold over $2.5 million in videos and DVDs in the first year of video release. In budget to gross ratio, it was the fourth most profitable film of the year 2000. In his review of "God's Army" renowned critic Michael Medved wrote "Richard Dutcher is a wunderkind of truly terrifying potential."
With the critical and financial success of "God's Army", Dutcher was easily able to raise money for this next film project. "Brigham City" opened in Utah theaters on April 6, 2001. It eventually played in theaters around the country. Critics generally considered it an even better film than "God's Army." But its darker subject matter (the plot revolves around the sheriff's search for a serial killer), as well as its PG-13 rating seemed to keep some movie-goers away.
He then made and released "States of Grace," a follow up to "God's Army." It was this film that provoked film critic Wade Major of Boxoffice Magazine to write, "Dutcher has joined the ranks of the very best independent filmmakers in the world."
In 2007, in a full-page editorial in the Utah newspaper The Daily Herald, Dutcher publicly left Mormonism. He released his film "Falling" in Los Angeles and Salt Lake City in 2008. He considers it his finest film.
After "Falling" Dutcher made the 7 million dollar horror film "Evil Angel" starring Ving Rhames ("Pulp Fiction," "Mission Impossible: Fallout") which received a wide international release, but has never received a North American release.
He returned to his low-budget roots with the comedy "The Boys at the Bar" starring Bo Hopkins ("American Graffitti" "The Wild Bunch"). The film was shot in eight days and made for a budget of $150,000. The film, although finished, has yet to be released. Dutcher plans a 2023 release.
As a hired gun screenwriter, Dutcher has written multiple screenplays now in development for director John McTiernan ("Die Hard," "Predator") and producer George Folsey Jr. ("An American Werewolf in London," "The Blues Brothers," "The Twilight Zone"). He wrote the screenplay for the independent feature "The Flyboys" from director Rocco Devilliers, as well as Devilliers' next film, "Dark Highway."
